Besides achieving profitability and positive cash flow (as well as a $3.27 billion cushion in cash and equivalents at the end of FY16), BlackBerry’s software sales grew 24% quarter over quarter to $67 million, as the company won 2,200 customers, including many competitive displacements, said Executive Chairman and CEO, John Chen. They included:

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/03/blackberry-turnaround-progress-7-positive-takeaways/feed/0Featured Image -- 15910ericylaiTwo Affirmations for BlackBerry Security: UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Reaction to Hyper-Secure SecuTABLEThttp://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/03/blackberry-security-david-cameron/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/03/blackberry-security-david-cameron/#commentsWed, 18 Mar 2015 14:51:21 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/?p=15857/ Read More]]>If you’re at the top, you’ve got to have the top equipment – no matter which side of the “pond” you happen to be on.

This was highlighted earlier this week by British Prime Minister David Cameron in a video interview with BuzzFeed.

As we reported last year, Cameron feels comfortable with his ability to handle anything on the go armed with his BlackBerry. “Wherever I am in the world, I am always within a few feet of a BlackBerry and an ability to manage things should they need to be managed,” he said.

He maintained that point in his BuzzFeed interview, saying “I have a BlackBerry which I use for work, which is very good for email.”

When pressed on the issue, Cameron reiterated, “They’re good. The Government has a BlackBerry service. They’re actually very good for emails and documents.”

There’s now a new tablet these leaders could add to their very small lists of approved devices: the SecuTABLET, also announced earlier this week as the result of a partnership between BlackBerry-owned Secusmart, Samsung and IBM.

A Secure Tablet, You Say?

Based on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 running Android, the SecuTABLET is built with security designed to satisfy the special needs of government leaders and regulated enterprises.The same anti-surveillance technology behind the Secusmart Security Card’s encrypted voice and messaging, already used by Merkel and others in the German government, also secures the new SecuTABLET.

“Organizations deploying the SecuTABLET will be able to set policies controlling what apps can run on the devices, and whether those apps must be wrapped,” explained IBM Germany spokesman Stefan Hefter, as reported by the IDG News Service.

“The wrapping process – in which an app is downloaded from a public app store, bundled with additional libraries that encrypt its network traffic and intercept Android ‘intents’ for actions such as cutting or pasting data, then uploaded to a private app store – ensures that corporate data can be protected at rest, in motion and in use,” he said. “For instance, it can prevent data from a secure email being copied and pasted into the Facebook app running on the same device – yet allow it to be pasted into a secure collaboration environment, or any other app forming part of the same ‘federation.’”

As ZDNet’s Sean Portnoy writes, “As proof of just how secure the SecuTABLET aims to be, the German Federal Office for Information Security is currently putting it through its certification process to grant it a classified-level security rating.”

Can you say any of that about your garden-variety tablet?

And while the SecuTABLET costs more than typical Android tablets, Mashable declares that “for the global organizations BlackBerry is targeting, safeguarding high-stakes data is often well worth the cost.”

“BlackBerry has always been at the forefront of email on go, with its excellent physical keyboard now backed up by the impressive messaging handling of the BlackBerry 10 operating system,” it wrote. “The big advantage with the BlackBerry Passport is the firm’s excellent support for business users.”

The SecuTABLET renews our commitment to ultra-secure communications for those that need and demand it.

Barcelona, 3rd March: Anticipation was high around our Tuesday media event at the Inbisa Tower overlooking Mobile World Congress’s main convention hall, the Fira Gran Via. Despite the many competing events inside the Expo, more than 100 media and industry analysts turned out at our breakfast event, which covered both our many announcements related to our cross-platform, enterprise software strategy, to our 2015 device roadmap.

Are your vendors helping or hurting? Many ad hoc solutions really aren’t “solutions,” especially when they don’t address the range of ways that organizations deploy devices, from BYOD to COPE to COBO.

Thanks to BES12’s cross-platform capabilities, those challenges become much easier to handle, with virtually all major mobile platforms – from BlackBerry to Android, iOS and Windows Phone to Samsung KNOX – addressed by powerful-yet-simple EMM tools available out of the box.

According to IDC, “BES12 meets the market’s extraordinarily complex requirements by delivering a modern platform to manage all endpoints.”

With the advent of BES12 Cloud, BES 12 version 12.1, and enhancements to BBM Protected and BBM Meetings, those capabilities are expanding.

BES12 Cloud Makes Powerful EMM Simple

BES12 Cloud makes mobility easy for small businesses. For SMBs, looking to mobility to help start and grow their business, BES12 Cloud makes managing apps and data easy with a cloud based EMM solution that is secure, flexible and simple to deploy and easy to use. Businesses powered by BES12 Cloud are more protected and more productive.

Coming later in March, BES12 Cloud will give enterprises the EMM tools to securely manage their phones and tablets, however that is done.

Geared towards enterprises looking to manage mobile devices, BES12 Cloud will protect their corporate data and enable employee productivity, all through a simple browser interface and without complicated or expensive server installs. Plus, its simple setup and configuration also makes it easy for SMBs to adopt cross-platform EMM and take advantage of cloud-based productivity and collaboration solutions like BlackBerry Blend and BBM Meetings.

Buying BES12 Cloud can be done 100 percent online. It only takes minutes from purchase to EMM service availability in the cloud. The low monthly subscriptions also include BlackBerry’s award-winning technical support.

Balancing the Needs of the Business and the End-User

A recent BlackBerry-commissioned global survey of individuals responsible for governance, risk and compliance in their enterprise found 77 percent of respondents cited increasing difficulty in balancing the needs of the business and those of the end user when it comes to mobility.

The span of capabilities offered by BES12 along with BlackBerry’s unmatched security is why organizations such as Essar Group, TATA Power Delhi Distribution Limited and Tarpon Energy Services Ltd have selected BES12 as their EMM vendor of choice.

“We have implemented BES12 in our organization to cater to the needs of EMM in our environment and are planning to trial the new BES12 Cloud solution,” said Jayantha Prabhu, Chief Technology Officer, Essar Group. “Our BYOD policy allows employees to have a choice. For example, some of our users have opted to upgrade to the BlackBerry 10 platform, especially those who want the QWERTY keyboard experience and have chosen a device like the BlackBerry Classic, while others are using Android, iOS or Windows devices. BES12 helps us manage all of this, with the peace of mind that our corporate data remains secure.”

New Enhancements to BES12’s On-premise Platform are also Coming

BES12’s on-premise suite of tools is also getting some new enhancements with version 12.1.

Key new features available today include:

Government and Security Enhancements for BlackBerry 10: New administrator capabilities include BlackBerry 10 OS version control, more options for work email regulation, and the ability to perform wired activation of BlackBerry 10 devices with BES12 within tightly controlled, centralized deployments.

Enhanced Android Management: BES12 version 12.1 adds support for Samsung KNOX Standard, with support for the KNOX Workspace planned for an upcoming release of BES12, which will also feature BlackBerry Secure Connectivity. Additionally, BES12 and BES12 Cloud will manage devices equipped with Android for Work, Google’s solution to securely separate business and personal data and applications.

Enhanced Administrator Experience: Seamless administrator sign-on into the BES12 console without requiring login credentials and dynamic support for new BES12 IT policy controls as new OS updates are introduced.

BBM Meetings – Now Integrated into Microsoft Outlook

BBM Meetings offers a new way to collaborate and be more productive from any Android, iPhone, BlackBerry 10 smartphone or Windows PC or Mac. It combines a mobile-optimized user experience that allows on-the-go professionals to schedule, host and participate in meetings anywhere you have an internet connection. New enhancements to BBM Meetings include a Microsoft Outlook plug-in that enables customers to directly schedule and start a BBM Meeting from the Microsoft Outlook client on a Windows desktop.

BBM Protected Bumps Up Security

provides enterprise-grade encryption for cross-platform BBM messages. The enhancement to BBM Protected extends the security of BBM Protected conversations to non-BBM Protected users. Now all conversations initiated by a BBM Protected user can be secured, regardless of whether the other person is a BBM Protected user or not. With this enhancement, now an enterprise using BBM Protected can be assured that all of their employees’ communications are fully protected, even when communicating outside of their company.

A Powerful EMM Combination

BES12 and BES12 Cloud offer the solutions to meet your EMM needs, no matter how complex they are.

Follow us on @BlackBerry for all the latest news and announcements from Mobile World Conference 2015 (#MWC15)

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/03/bes12-cloud/feed/0BBRY2674_Cloud_blog_feature_smallalrehman81BBRY2674_Cloud_LinkedIn_CompanyBBRY2674_Cloud_blog_feature_small1x1_Passport_BBM_Meetings_InMeeting_ENGBES12 Supports Google’s Android for Work, as BlackBerry EMM Goes Even More Cross-Platformhttp://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/02/bes12-android-for-work/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/02/bes12-android-for-work/#commentsWed, 25 Feb 2015 19:03:36 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/?p=15666/ Read More]]>BlackBerry today announced that it will be joining the Android for Work program with Google. This will enable our cross-platform enterprise mobility management (EMM) solution, BES12, to manage Android Lollipop devices equipped with advanced security features to separate business and personal data and applications.

Backed by BES12, Android for Work creates a secure, dedicated profile for business data and applications. The BES12 solution will seamlessly integrate with the Android OS to enable platform-level containerization. This will eliminate the need for application wrapping, while providing unhindered access to Google Now and any Android application available on Google Play for Work™ that is permitted by an organization’s IT policies.

Android for Work focuses on three key themes:

Enhanced security: New Android security features aimed at protecting business and private data

Simplified management: New features to simplify IT administrator experience across both BYOD and corporate-owned devices

Open platform for innovation: Partnerships with OEMs, ISVs and EMMs to leverage Android’s framework to offer greater device choice, applications and functionality.

Android for Work support will be included natively in Android 5.1 (Lollipop) devices and newer. Limited Android for Work support will be available to Android 4+ (Ice Cream Sandwich) devices via an after-market software download.

BES12 will provide organizations with the most secure and flexible way to manage Android for Work. Android Lollipop smartphones and tablets are natively managed within the BES12 environment, which streamlines management of all device platforms and usage models, such as BYOD or Corporate-Owned, Business-Only (COBO), in a single command and control center. BES12 will offer native support of Android Lollipop devices either on-premise or in the cloud, and will be supported by BlackBerry’s gold standard of mobile security, scalable architecture and trusted network infrastructure.

Note: BlackBerry continues to enhance its Secure Work Space containerization solution for iOS and Android. We announced today that more than 70 apps run on Secure Work Space today, currently more than any other containerization solution out there, including that of Good Technology.

BlackBerry is your strategic EMM partner of choice regardless of which Android solution you choose.

No matter how organizations choose to deploy Android devices – Android for Work, Samsung KNOX or Secure Work Space – BlackBerry and BES12 will be at the center of their secure mobility ecosystem.

Backing this up are 5 key strengths:

Industry leading security, trusted by the world’s leading businesses. BlackBerry is a security conscious organization with considerable external validation of our security implementation. We have achieved over 70 security certifications across the end to end BlackBerry solution including FIPS140-2 for BES12

A single EMM platform to manage all devices and operating systems – beyond just managing Android devices using Android for Work, KNOX and Secure Work space, BES12 supports iOS, BlackBerry and Windows Phone – all through one pane of glass

Flexible deployment options to meet the changing needs of businesses – on-premise, hosted in the cloud and soon, hybrid. Plus a choice of enrollment modes ranging from BYOD, to COPE to COBO.

End user experience focused on mobile productivity – End users benefit too. BlackBerry has always focused on providing end users with a an experience that is intuitive and designed to allow for maximum productivity. Security is designed to happen in the background so that it doesn’t interfere with productivity but rather enables it.

BES12 support for Android for Work will be available for an invite only preview in March and will be available starting in the second quarter of 2015. For additional information, visit us here. To learn more about BES12, click here.

Follow us on @BlackBerry for all the latest news and announcements from Mobile World Conference 2015 (#MWC15).

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/02/bes12-android-for-work/feed/1Android for Work app2alrehman81Android for Work app2mail-inbox1BlackBerry Classic Available This Thursday On The Verizon Wireless Networkhttp://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/02/blackberry-classic-available-this-thursday-on-the-verizon-wireless-network/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/02/blackberry-classic-available-this-thursday-on-the-verizon-wireless-network/#commentsTue, 24 Feb 2015 15:27:58 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/02/blackberry-classic-available-this-thursday-on-the-verizon-wireless-network/Inside BlackBerry:BlackBerry Classic Available Feb. 26 on the Verizon Wireless Network Familiar Design and QWERTY Keyboard on…]]>

Familiar Design and QWERTY Keyboard on the Nation’s Most Reliable 4G LTE Network

BlackBerry loyalists and keyboard fans will feel right at home with the new BlackBerry Classic. The familiar design and iconic keyboard return for those who have 10 minutes to type 10 emails before moving onto their next task. QWERTY fans, this is for you. Read all about the announcement at Verizon Wireless.

In today’s smartphone world, apps are all part of the experience. The BlackBerry Classic gives you access to both BlackBerry and Android apps, the best of both worlds. Search for and download apps through BlackBerry World and the Amazon Appstore. And with so many apps, you’ll need a battery to power you through the day. The 2500mAh battery gives you up to 22 hours of mixed usage. Power Optimization on the Classic helps to…

MobileIron recently held its Q4 earnings call where their CEO, Bob Tinker, made a number of comments regarding the competitive landscape — and BlackBerry in particular. Let’s separate Bob’s self-promotion from reality – and the facts.

Bob says: that he and his team “really don’t see BlackBerry or BES12, inside customers, or in competitive deals.” He adds “what we hear from our large enterprise customers, which is actually that they’re turning off their BESs, around the world.”

Fact Check: What Bob thinks he sees and hears is probably not the best assessment of what’s actually happening in the market. To get a better sense of the competitive landscape, BlackBerry recently asked independent research firm GfK to survey enterprise mobility decision makers in large companies in the US, Canada, UK, France and Germany. They found that:

Approximately one-third of companies (32 percent) indicated that they…

BlackBerry announced today that David Kleidermacher (right) has joined us as our new Chief Security Officer.

David’s security expertise is considerable, spanning more than 20 years in strategy and product engineering focused on operating systems, high assurance software development techniques, mobile device security and the Internet of Things (IoT). He literally wrote the book on security for embedded systems: Embedded Systems Security: Practical Methods for Safe and Secure Software and Systems Development. He’s also authored articles and whitepapers on everything from bringing mobile devices up to military spec to connected cars.

David comes to BlackBerry from Green Hills Software where he was Chief Technology Officer. During his time at Green Hills, he led the team that developed the company’s market-leading INTEGRITY high reliability real-time operating system. INTEGRITY was certified by the NSA at EAL6+ High Robustness Common Criteria SKPP — the highest security level ever achieved for an operating…

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/02/introducing-blackberrys-new-chief-security-officer-david-kleidermacher/feed/0Featured Image -- 15584alrehman81BlackBerry Enterprise Wins Mobile Star Awardshttp://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/01/blackberry-mobile-star-awards/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/01/blackberry-mobile-star-awards/#commentsWed, 28 Jan 2015 17:57:34 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/?p=15479/ Read More]]>For the second year in a row, BlackBerry is the recipient of several Mobile Star Awards, which honors products across the mobile ecosystem. This program is hosted annually by the mobile technology news and directory site MobileVillage.com, and its winners are selected by MobileVillage readers.

For 2014, EMM solution BES10 was named a “Superstar” for Mobile Devices Management, while secure messaging service BBM Protected earned that same distinction in the Mobile Messaging or Email category. The BlackBerry Passport was noted as a “Shining Star” in the Business-Ready Smartphone category, showing how the device is built for the productivity-minded professional. And finally, BlackBerry’s Billy Ho was named as an Enterprise Mobile Services Visionary. Billy leads the Enterprise Product Management and Software teams as Executive Vice President of Enterprise Engineering.

Thanks to all the BlackBerry fans who voted and showed their support!

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2015/01/blackberry-mobile-star-awards/feed/0MobileStarAwards_250alrehman812014_MobileStarAwards_600x310BES10 Hosted Wins Enterprise Service of the Year in Best in Biz Awards 2014http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/12/best-in-biz-award/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/12/best-in-biz-award/#commentsThu, 04 Dec 2014 15:57:21 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/?p=15158/ Read More]]>We’re pleased to announce that BES10 Hosted has been named a gold winner in the Enterprise Service of the Year category of the Best in Biz Awards 2014, the only independent business awards program judged by members of the press and industry analysts.

BES10 Hosted is a scalable solution that can be leveraged by businesses of all sizes. It gives organizations the flexibility, convenience and cost-effectiveness of outsourced IT administration while still retaining data security. For those companies looking to control costs and limit their in-house IT resources, BES10 Hosted will allow them to deploy BlackBerry’s trusted, secure service within their organization with ease.

A few months ago, the BlackBerry® Z30 smartphone was named the gold winner in the Consumer Product of the Year category of the Best in Biz Awards 2014 International.

Best in Biz Awards’ fourth annual North American program was its most competitive yet. More than 550 award nominations were received this year in a variety of company, executive, team, and product focused categories. Nominations were fielded from public and private companies of all sizes, from virtually every major industry and region in the U.S. and Canada.

Winners of Best in Biz Awards 2014 were determined based on scoring from an independent panel of 53 judges from highly recognized newspapers, business, consumer and technology publications, radio outlets, and analyst firms.

BlackBerry announced today that it has created a strategic partnership with Samsung to provide a tightly integrated, end-to-end secure mobile solution for Android. We asked John Sims, BlackBerry’s President, Global Enterprise Services and Greg Wade, Vice President of Samsung’s KNOX Business Group why the companies chose to partner and what it will mean for enterprise customers.

Why have you chosen to partner?

John Sims: Like everything we do, the decision was guided by the needs of our customers. There are many enterprises that purchase mobile technologies from both BlackBerry and Samsung. In the case of BlackBerry, enterprises have known BES for many years; it’s a trusted solution that has proved its value and maturity in the marketplace. Companies have invested time and resources integrating BES into their IT infrastructure, are trained on it, and trust it. Many of those same customers have — or are considering — adding Samsung devices into their mix.

Greg Wade: Both Samsung and BlackBerry have often heard from customers that they would be very interested in being able to manage and secure KNOX-enabled Samsung devices directly from their BES infrastructure. We’ve listened. In early 2015, we’ll be able to offer our customers an integrated, end-to-end secure mobility solution that brings together BlackBerry’s strengths in EMM and secure infrastructure and the enhanced hardware and software features include in Samsung Galaxy devices, embedded with KNOX.

John Sims: It’s a strategic partnership aimed at meeting the increasingly complex needs of our enterprise customers. One of the first tangible results of this collaboration will be a tightly integrated, end-to-end secure mobile solution for Android.

Greg Wade: It will provide enterprise customers with a new option: an integrated solution that brings together BES12: a cross-platform EMM solution by BlackBerry, BlackBerry’s secure network infrastructure and Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets that are embedded with Samsung KNOX.

What’s next for this partnership?

John Sims: The collaboration between BlackBerry and Samsung is based on a simple principle: meet our enterprise customers’ needs. In many cases, we can do that far more effectively by working together. We’re excited to work with partners like Samsung on what that might mean in the future.

Greg Wade: Our first step will be to bring to market this integrated end-to-end secure solution. Beyond that, as John says, both partners are interested in exploring further opportunities where we can work together to provide more value and more choice to our customers.

Is this a sign BlackBerry intends to exit the devices business?

John Sims: No, not at all. BlackBerry devices are designed from the ground up with productivity and security in mind. There are users who absolutely love the BlackBerry keyboard, the BlackBerry Hub and the productivity-focused form factor of devices like the BlackBerry Passport.

When we talk to customers, what they tell us is that they need a wide variety of mobile solutions to meet a growing range of needs within their organization. Within that range of needs, there is definitely still a place for BlackBerry devices.

How does this solution compare to an all-BlackBerry solution: BES12 managing BlackBerry 10 devices?

John Sims: Both options provide a highly secure, end-to-end mobile solution. Each has its strengths; the best option will depend on a customer’s specific needs when it comes to security, compliance, productivity and cost. Today’s announcement means that customers have an expanded range of options to choose from — our goal is to ensure enterprises can work with BlackBerry to find the right solution for their specific needs.

Greg Wade: The reason this partnership made sense to us is because it gives us both the chance to offer something new to customers that we really think helps both BlackBerry and Samsung answer a much broader cross section of our customer’s needs.

Our European readers will know Groupe 3SI by name, and if not, they’ll very likely have purchased something from one of the company’s several e-commerce brands – such as 3 Suisses, Blancheporte, Becquet, Mondial Relay, Vitrine Magique, Dispeo or Unigro – which together attracted 20 million unique web visitors last year in Europe alone. 3SI is in fact a global powerhouse, with €1 billion in annual turnover and 5500 employees across 20 countries.

Choosing a partner, not a point solution

As you can imagine, a large percentage of those workers are mobile. It’s a lot to manage for any IT team, and 3SI knew theirs would benefit in a number ways from a migration to BES10 – not to mention the advantages employees would realize with BlackBerry 10 devices in their hands.

While their decision – like any EMM decision these days – involved hundreds of factors and sub-factors spanning mobile applications management, device controls, containerization and more, a few issues stood out: user experience, security, data leak protection, and business enablement. And underlying all of it – the need for a trust-based partnership, not another point solution.

“BlackBerry’s solution combines an excellent user experience with high-level security. We have a long-standing relationship with BlackBerry and BES10 has reinforced our confidence in BlackBerry as a trusted partner,” said Christian Terryn, Systems Engineer, 3SI.

Control for IT, privacy for users

And IT managers are perhaps most excited about the ability to set policies and rules that draw a line between work and personal data. “Thanks to BES 10 and BlackBerry Balance technology, Groupe 3SI can now enable employees to automatically segregate apps and data into separate personal and professional spaces: in one they can share photos or use social networks and in the other they can perform business-related tasks.”

Groupe 3SI is one of the hundreds of top global enterprises that are reviewing all their options in great detail and arriving at a BlackBerry decision. Get the full story in our press release.

We’re all doing more every day, and mobility helps make that possible. So how do you make sure you still have time to stop and smell the proverbial roses?

France has it figured out.

When there’s no time for a two-hour multicourse dîner, busy Francophones turn to Picard, where they can pick up a frozen equivalent, pop home, and enjoy a gourmet experience within a few minutes. After all, the French know how to strike a balance – that all work, all the time is no way to live.

Picard offers more than 1,100 gourmet frozen food products at more than 920 stores around France.

Pick of the crop

So perhaps it should come as no surprise that, after trialing a range of options, Picard is the latest global powerhouse to announce it’s deploying BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES10) and BlackBerry 10 smartphones.

BES10 gives busy IT teams back critical time each day as they manage the multiple, ever-shifting needs of a complex EMM environment. And thanks to built-in technology like BlackBerry Balance, employees can manage every aspect of their lives on the same smartphone – knowing their work content is kept safe and separate from their personal information.

Security baked in

“As longstanding BlackBerry customers, we have consistently found that BlackBerry offers a good user experience as well as unmatched security on the market, especially when combined with the BlackBerry 10 platform. The fact that security is built-in rather than ‘added on’ to the BES10 solution, is a real plus that provides us with the best protection,” said Ismael Simoes, CTO for Picard.

For our part, we’re thrilled that Picard has chosen BlackBerry. Customers such as Picard recognize the advantage of having an integrated solution, which combines world-class security, ease-of-use, unparalleled productivity and cost effectiveness. Through the use of BlackBerry EZ Pass, which counts 3.4 million licenses issued, migrating to BlackBerry 10 has never been easier.

Today we’re officially unveiling the all-new BlackBerry Passport. This is a unique new device that allows you to work wide with its touch-enabled keyboard and large square touchscreen. Designed with mobile professionals in mind, the BlackBerry Passport is built to keep you productive. Best of all, it’s available starting today from a number of partners and unlocked through shopblackberry.com.

In a recent press release, John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO at BlackBerry, had this to say:

“As we set out to design BlackBerry Passport, we were guided by a simple yet challenging idea – to set aside the limitations of traditional design and to instead simply build a device that fundamentally changes the way business professionals get work done on their smartphone.The BlackBerry Passport was created to drive productivity and to break through the sea of rectangular-screen, all-touch devices.”

Innovative BlackBerry Keyboard – The BlackBerry Passport’s revolutionary new keyboard brings innovation to input with a responsive touch surface like a trackpad that lets you perform many touch functions directly on the keyboard. You can scroll web pages, flick to type or slide along the keys to move the cursor, leaving the full screen space for viewing.

BlackBerry 10 OS 10.3 – The BlackBerry Passport comes preloaded with the new BlackBerry 10.3 operating system, including new features such as BlackBerry Assistant, BlackBerry Blend and Amazon Appstore. It has a fresh look that incorporates updated icons and an instant action bar so that each user’s most commonly accessed functions are in the center of their screen.

Best-in-Class Battery Life – The 3450 mAh battery is the largest among the top selling smartphones and phablets and, when tested against a very active user, provides up to 30 hours of mixed use. It’s our best battery power to date.*

Dual app storefronts for a Wealth of Professional and Popular Apps

BlackBerry World – BlackBerry World showcases essential productivity apps for business professionals looking to drive efficient communications and collaboration.

Amazon Appstore – Preloaded on BlackBerry Passport, users can access popular consumer apps through the Amazon Appstore, including the latest Android games and apps, such as Minecraft – Pocket Edition, Candy Crush Saga, Pinterest, Temple Run 2 and Cut the Rope 2.

BlackBerry Assistant – The BlackBerry Assistant is BlackBerry’s first digital assistant and can be used with voice and text commands to help users manage work and personal email, contacts, calendar and other native BlackBerry 10 applications. BlackBerry Assistant intelligently determines how to respond to you based on how you interact with it – if you type, it responds silently, if you speak, it speaks back and if you activate over Bluetooth, it speaks back with additional context because it assumes you might not have access to the screen.

BlackBerry Natural Sound – BlackBerry Passport comes with powerful speakers and a quad microphone system that delivers a high-quality listening experience. BlackBerry Natural Sound Technology is built in to adapt Wi-Fi and cellular call sound depending upon phone position and background noise, automatically adjusting volume so you don’t have to.

Don’t take our word for it. Head to shopblackberry.com now or Amazon.com, or one of our many local carriers where BlackBerry Passport is now available. For more details, visit blackberry.com/Passport. If you like what you see, be sure to let us know in the comments below, and give us a shout-out on your social media channel of choice using #BlackBerryPassport.

It may take up to 24 hours for the BlackBerry Passport to appear in the digital storefronts mentioned above

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/09/first-look-meet-the-all-new-blackberry-passport-video/feed/0bb_passport_printad_finance_1_1donnyhalliwellBB_Passport_PrintAd_FINANCE_1_2Introducing BlackBerry Blend: Power and Security of BlackBerry on your Computer and Tablethttp://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/09/introducing-blackberry-blend-power-and-security-of-blackberry-on-your-computer-and-tablet/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/09/introducing-blackberry-blend-power-and-security-of-blackberry-on-your-computer-and-tablet/#commentsThu, 25 Sep 2014 14:52:23 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/?p=14383/ Read More]]> Originally published on the Inside BlackBerry blog

Onstage today at the BlackBerry Passport events in Toronto, London and Dubai, we showed off BlackBerry Blend. This new wireless app allows you to display content from your BlackBerry, such as conversations, calendars, files, contacts and more, on other screens such as computers and tablets.

While the concept may seem simple, the implications for both the customer and IT manager are massive. No more unnecessary e-mailing or searching around for USB thumb drives – Blend enables you to work seamlessly across multiple platforms, while maintaining BlackBerry’s trademark security.

Available here as a free download, Blend runs on Windows, Mac and Android operating systems. It’s another example of how BlackBerry is opening up and going cross-platform, and how we are making your BlackBerry 10 devices even more useful. Let’s dive into Blend’s key features and show off a few use cases likely relevant to you:

Never miss a BBM or text message: Blend brings all your BBM and text messages from your BlackBerry smartphone to an integrated messaging hub now conveniently available on your computer and tablet.

Use your smartphone as a mobile network hub: Gain secure access to work email, calendars and important files on any device connected to Blend.

Transfer files across devices: Save files from your computer to your BlackBerry smartphone so they are accessible on any device connected to BlackBerry Blend.

BlackBerry security, across your devices: Powered by the BlackBerry device through the BlackBerry network, this seamless experience is also secure. And IT Administrators can rest easy, as they have the ability to set BlackBerry Blend parameters for users that match their security guidelines.

Unified Calendar Management: BlackBerry Blend merges all of your work meetings, personal appointments and events into one view.

Connect anywhere, anytime: BlackBerry Blend can connect wirelessly via Wi-Fi or cellular connection, or wired through the USB port on your PC. Once connected, use your BlackBerry ID on your computer and tablet to connect to BlackBerry Blend.

I’ve been using Blend myself for a few weeks now. Here’s all of the time-saving benefits I’ve found:

Blend at Work

When I’m in the office, I tend to set my device on my desk. My Windows computer becomes my main screen as I manage my day and complete tasks. With my phone sitting on my desk, I often miss BBM side conversations or text messages as I power through my busy day. With BlackBerry Blend, I get notified when these messages come in on my screen. I then can read and respond right from my PC.

Blend at Home

When I’m at home, I prefer not to use my company laptop. It’s cumbersome, often outdated and requires an annoying VPN connection to tap into the office. With BlackBerry Blend, I can use the technology I’ve chosen to own, whether it be my Mac laptop or an Android tablet or soon, iPad. I can access my work email, calendar, files and contacts. I can even access corporate intranet sites using the work browser all with the BlackBerry security that IT managers rely on to control information.

Blend on the Road

For any of you who are frequent travelers, you know that time in-flight can be invaluable for managing your inbox. Normally, you’d open up your PC’s email client, work in Offline Mode and have to wait until you’re settled at your Hotel before you can connect to the internet (often with charges, I might add). BlackBerry Blend enables you to be much more efficient. While connected to my laptop via USB in Airplane Mode, I can use Blend to respond and send emails in-flight. As soon as we land, I turn off Airplane Mode, and voila! All of the messages I’ve worked on on my laptop are sent immediately via my BlackBerry phone through Blend, often before we’ve taxied to the gate.

Now that you’ve seen how BlackBerry Blend works, go and download and try it for yourself and let us know what ways you’re planning to use this new app below in the comments.

BlackBerry Blend may take up to 24 hours to appear live for download.

BlackBerry Blend is launching today on the BlackBerry Passport and the Porsche Design P’9983 from BlackBerry, and will work across desktop operating systems, including Mac OS X 10.7 + and Windows 7+ and Android tablets running Android 4.4+. BlackBerry is also working to bring the Blend experience on other tablets soon. The downloadable version of BlackBerry Blend for Macs and PCs is available today at http://www.BlackBerry.com/Blend, or via the Google Play Store for Android tablets.

BlackBerry Blend comes free on BlackBerry Passport at launch. Additional enterprise features will be available through a subscription program. Details of the enterprise offering will be announced in the coming weeks.

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/09/introducing-blackberry-blend-power-and-security-of-blackberry-on-your-computer-and-tablet/feed/0blend_launch_google-plus_1080x608-squaredonnyhalliwellBlend_Launch_Google-Plus_1080x608John Sims and CEO of Movirtu Disclose More on BlackBerry’s Acquisitionhttp://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/09/movirtu-acquisition/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/09/movirtu-acquisition/#commentsThu, 11 Sep 2014 12:37:08 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/?p=14276/ Read More]]>Today, we take another big step on delivering the industry’s leading mobile technology — we have acquired Movirtu, a provider of multiple identity solutions for mobile operators that allows multiple numbers to be active on a single device. This enables split billing and the use of personal and corporate profiles.

This acquisition gives BlackBerry a unique edge in providing improved management and services of iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices used in BYOD and COPE environments.

Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO – Movirtu

Inside BlackBerry for Business sat down with BlackBerry’s Enterprise President John Sims and Movirtu’s CEO Carsten Brinkschulte to discuss what this acquisition means for our two companies.

Inside BlackBerry for Business: Carsten, the first question goes to you as many of our readers may not be familiar with Movirtu. Can you tell us a little about the company?

Carsten Brinkschulte: Today is a very big day for us and we’re thrilled to join the BlackBerry team. Movirtu provides virtual identity solutions for mobile operators that allow multiple numbers to be active on a single device. Simply put, with the Movirtu Virtual SIM platform, we enable employees to have two phone numbers that splits between corporate and personal use. Our technology is unique and is based on a number of patents, with many applications that can be used to build flexible and powerful solutions for customers and end users.

Inside BlackBerry for Business: John, tell us why BlackBerry has acquired Movirtu. What does this mean for your current enterprise strategy, and how will our technologies integrate?

John Sims, President Global Enterprise Services – BlackBerry

Our strategy is to broaden BlackBerry’s solutions and services that enable our customers to fully embrace the potential of enterprise mobility. As we move to a BYOD and COPE world, there remain a number of policy, efficiency and convenience challenges facing enterprises, mobile operators, and consumers alike. By acquiring Movirtu, our aim is to improve BYOD and COPE policy management and billing, increasing efficiency and convenience.

Enterprise customers will now be able to provision a single device for corporate and personal use; allow discrete enterprise policies to be applied to only the work side of the device, while allowing full usability of the personal portion of the device; split bills for voice, data and messaging; and provide the ability to switch between profiles easily.

Inside BlackBerry for Business: What’s the history between BlackBerry and Movirtu – have the companies partnered in the past?

John Sims: We have not partnered together in the past, but we have been closely following the sector and recognized Movirtu as having the broadest and most seamless solution available in the market.

Carsten Brinkschulte: Moreover, we both agreed that Movirtu and BlackBerry shared a vision to redefine the mobile experience by introducing virtual identities and addressing a critical challenge faced by enterprises, mobile operators and employees throughout BYOD and COPE environments.

Inside BlackBerry for Business: This past month in California, an Appeals Court ruled in a class-action lawsuit that companies with employees in California are now responsible for reimbursing employees for business-related calls on corporate devices. This type of ruling may set precedence for BYOD and COPE programs throughout the country. Does this solution help prepare companies that may need to deal with this ruling?

John Sims: BYOD and COPE have created a number of challenges for enterprises, employees and mobile operators. The California ruling may seem focused on just the employee’s rights, but it’s important to remember that dividing usage of mobile devices between an employer and employee is meant to provide a fair allocation of accounting and cost for everyone. It also protects ownership of personal and corporate numbers for both the business and their employee should they depart the company.

Inside BlackBerry for Business: Carsten, how were you convinced that BlackBerry was the right company for Movirtu?

Carsten Brinkschulte: I knew, as many in the industry, how deep BlackBerry’s enterprise experience and knowledge goes. I also knew that we were tackling something unique that would soon become high in demand as BYOD and COPE proliferates. BlackBerry’s global infrastructure, also known as “the NOC,” is unprecedented and is already connected directly to hundreds of mobile operators worldwide. Leveraging these existing connections would be the best way to offer quick and reliable deployment of the Movirtu Virtual SIM solution with minimal effort for the operator. Additionally, BlackBerry will help bring the solution to market through their wide network of mobile operators.

Our solution also complements BlackBerry’s Secure Work Space, BlackBerry Balance and other partitioning technologies, which gives employees the freedom and privacy they want for their personal use while delivering the security and management needed for business use. With Movirtu, employees can now switch between profiles for calls, data and messages expanding the functionality of partitioning technologies.

Inside BlackBerry for Business: Thanks again for taking the time to speak with us, Carsten and John.

To our readers, we hope you’re as excited about this news as we are. The new Virtual SIM capabilities will be offered by BlackBerry through our mobile operators, which will provide customers with multiple identity based service offerings. We plan to support the deployment of Movirtu technology by mobile operators and all major smartphone operating systems.

Let us know what you think of this acquisition in the comments section below, and be sure to stay tuned to the latest news by following us on Twitter at @BlackBerry4Biz and like our Facebook page.

“There are a lot of people still on BlackBerries that were thinking about getting off them. I don’t think they’re thinking that much anymore,” continued Enderle. “If you’re on BlackBerry you’re likely going to stay on BlackBerry now.”

Claman agreed. “The value of the BlackBerry security makes people wonder (about switching). I was just talking to the CEO of a large foreign bank. He said, ‘Liz, I still have to hold onto this BlackBerry.’”

“BlackBerry is the anti-Apple,” declared CNNMoney’s Paul R. LaMonica. “BlackBerry is widely acknowledged by many tech experts to have one of the most secure mobile platforms…now that Jennifer Lawrence and other celebrities are dealing with the PR nightmare of their nude photos circulating around the Internet due to a hack of their iCloud accounts, it’s possible that the company could win new customers … or, at the very least, regain some of the ones it has lost.”

Over on Time Warner Cable News, Alana LaFlore interviewed Austen Givens, a professor of practice in cyber security at Utica College, who recommends BlackBerry: “If you’re concerned – there are ways to protect your data. Givens says you might consider switching to a more secure phone. According to him, the Blackberry is best for data encryption.”

Now is proving to be a good time to take advantage of BlackBerry’s leading communication tools for business, especially if you’re on Verizon.

Up through September 30, 2014, customers with a business account can turn legacy devices into cash and receive a Bill Incentive Credit of up to $150 per line for upgrading to BlackBerry 10 devices, including the Z10, Z30 and Q10.

That $150 per device can add up quickly when multiplied across a business with numerous upgrades, and can be applied to just about anything, from signing up for BBM Protected to purchasing BlackBerry technical support services, and includes free licenses for BES10 licenses and complimentary technical support through January 31, 2015.

BGR’s Jacob Siegal writes, “There are still plenty of businesses that depend on the Canadian company’s devices and services in order to function . . . A partnership with Verizon could be huge for enterprise customers.”

BB OS 10, the recent recipient of the mobile OS crown from India’s largest technology magazine, Digit, certainly is worthy of more users, and with the 10.3 update just around the corner, the deal will only get sweeter.

On top of that, the Z30 was recently awarded Gold in the 2014 Best in Biz International for Consumer Product of the Year.

If you have a business account with Verizon, take advantage of this deal right away, and give your business an edge in productivity and communications with BlackBerry.

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/08/verizon-business-offer/feed/0verizon-communications_200x200wordsmithtechguyverizon-logo-redCrackBerry Verizon comment 1CrackBerry Verizon comment 2CrackBerry Verizon comment 3CTIA Awards: Help Us Translate Your Passion Into Recognitionhttp://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/08/cita-awards/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/08/cita-awards/#commentsThu, 21 Aug 2014 09:49:56 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/?p=14108/ Read More]]>One of the great things about working at BlackBerry is the enthusiasm of customers and supporters. We’d like to ask you to help us translate your passion into recognition by voting for a number of BlackBerry products and services eligible for the upcoming CTIA Awards.

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES10) is a finalist in the MobITs Awards in the Mobile Device Management category.

The Audi Virtual Cockpit in 2015 Audi TT, powered by software technology from our QNX subsidiary, is also a finalist for a Hot for the Holidays award in the Connected Car category.

But, the CTIA also wants to know what products you think deserve recognition. Each category has a “Best Online Pick” — sort of a people’s choice award — where voters can champion their favorites. That’s where you come in! Just click, register and vote:

Online voting is open now and runs until Monday, September 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Thanks again for your enthusiasm and support for BlackBerry!

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/08/cita-awards/feed/0CTIAalrehman81CTIAUK’s David Cameron Latest World Leader to Affirm that He Runs on BlackBerryhttp://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/08/world-leaders/
http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/08/world-leaders/#commentsWed, 20 Aug 2014 16:55:58 +0000http://bizblog.blackberry.com/?p=14104/ Read More]]>It’s well-known that the heads of the most powerful countries in the world choose BlackBerry smartphones, for the strong security, productivity and connectivity that they provide.

They include U.S. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, German Chancellor Angela Merkel – who along with many other senior German officials use BlackBerry devices enhanced with super-strong anti-surveillance technology from our recently-acquired firm, Secusmart – Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who used her BlackBerry Z10 to take a famous selfie with Obama and another user, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, late last year.

Caption: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister David Cameron both rely on BlackBerry devices to run their respective governments.

It was Cameron who was publicly declaring his reliance on BlackBerry this week. A long-time BlackBerry user, Cameron declared that even while on his annual vacation to Wales, he would have no trouble running British governmental affairs from his BlackBerry device.

“Wherever I am in the world, I am always within a few feet of a BlackBerry and an ability to manage things should they need to be managed,” Cameron told the media. “And indeed as I have done on I think almost every holiday that I have enjoyed over the past few years, I am able to return instantly should that be necessary.”

The UK government under Cameron has already banned iPads from high-level Cabinet meetings for fear that the devices could be bugged by foreign intelligence agencies, reported The Telegraph earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop (above) had her iPhone confiscated by Australian intelligence officials after they discovered that it had been hacked during tense negotiations related to the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 shot down in the Ukraine last month that killed several hundred passengers.

According to Stacy Crook, mobility analyst at IDC: “The STIG certification serves as an indication that BlackBerry Secure Work Space for iOS and Android is well positioned to meet the strict security requirements that many enterprise and government agencies require.”

As a chosen mobile solutions provider for all of the G7 governments, BlackBerry already held more than 70 government certifications. The BlackBerry 10 platform remains the only mobility solution to receive the coveted Full Operational Capability (FOC) certification to run on Department of Defense networks.

Obtaining STIG approval for Secure Work Space on iOS and Android shows how BlackBerry can secure other leading platforms. It’s more proof that BlackBerry is the only true cross-platform Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) vendor around today. No wonder so many governments and their leaders continue to put their confidence in the high security that BlackBerry can deliver.

]]>http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2014/08/world-leaders/feed/0DCericylaiGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel Meets WIth David Cameron At ChequersState Funeral Held For Actor Bud Tingwelldv1282020